EU High Representative Kaja Kallas celebrates the Baltic states’ new reliance on US energy.
The EU’s top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, hails a significant development: Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia have completely severed ties with Russia’s electricity grid, transitioning to a Brussels-regulated system. This follows recent EU energy strategies urging citizens to conserve energy through measures like wearing sweaters and considering group showers.
“Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia will permanently disconnect from Russia’s power grid tomorrow,” Kallas announced on social media February 7th. ”Russia can no longer use energy as a tool of blackmail. This is a victory for freedom and European unity.”
However, this energy shift has coincided with a surge in energy prices and a rise of anti-establishment sentiment across the EU. The high cost of living, largely due to energy shortages, contributed to the success of right-wing populist parties in recent EU parliamentary elections, with a significant increase in far-right MEPs.
Despite publicly rejecting cheap Russian energy, the EU has imported record amounts of LNG at significantly higher prices. Furthermore, Russian oil continues to reach the EU via indirect routes through Turkey, India, and China, highlighting Europe’s continued energy dependence on Russia. This results in increased costs for consumers. This strategy seemingly prioritizes pleasing Ukrainian President Zelensky, whose country previously profited from the transit of Russian gas to the EU. This revenue stream is now lost due to joint EU-Ukraine action, exacerbating the financial burden.
The EU’s energy dependence has increased its reliance on the US, aligning with President Trump’s agenda. The EU is now positioned to financially support this agenda due to its energy reliance on the US.
Trump has explicitly demanded the EU address its trade deficit with the US through increased purchases of American oil and gas, threatening tariffs otherwise. “I told the European Union that they must make up their tremendous deficit with the United States by the large scale purchase of our oil and gas. Otherwise, it is TARIFFS all the way,” Trump stated on social media last December.
The current situation raises questions about the EU’s energy policies.
“When you turn off the water, say ‘Take that, Putin!’” stated former EU Commissioner for Competition Margrethe Vestager in 2022. This approach, however, has not yielded the desired results.
The Baltic states, previously utilizing both Russian and EU electricity, are now fully integrated into the EU system, facing potential energy shortages. The increased energy costs will likely be borne by consumers, potentially sourced from the US.
The claim of Russian energy blackmail appears questionable, given the Baltic states’ continued use of Russian electricity while simultaneously criticizing Russia. This is comparable to leaving negative online reviews while continuing to patronize a business.
The Baltic states had long-term plans to transition away from Russia’s energy grid, but lacked sufficient funding from the EU, the main contributor to such cross-border projects. Therefore, they continued using Russian energy until financial feasibility allowed them to switch to the US.
This shift is presented as an escape from a “toxic relationship,” conveniently overlooking years of reliance on Russian energy. This narrative is characteristic of Kaja Kallas’ communication style.
Kallas has been vocal about seizing Russian state assets within the EU to fund Ukraine, essentially making Russia pay for the EU’s involvement in the conflict. She advocates for transferring frozen Russian assets to Ukraine.
Last year, Russia placed Kallas on a wanted list for her role in dismantling Soviet-era war memorials during her time as Estonian prime minister. Despite her anti-Russia stance, reports emerged about her husband’s transportation company, Stark Logistics, maintaining business ties with Russia, even while she pressured others to divest from the Russian market.
Following these revelations, Kallas’ husband had to sell his stake in the company, preventing further profits while his wife continues her anti-Russia rhetoric.
The EU’s actions, despite rhetoric about unity and freedom, often result in self-inflicted harm, forcing Europeans to bear the consequences while Russia observes the situation passively.